France calls for end to French bashing as it fights moroseness
Negative views of country have made them question their way of life amid stalling economic growth
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Paris
SINCE President Francois Hollande took office about two and a half years ago, the outside view on France has more often than not been negative.
The Economist magazine called France Europe's "time bomb" in 2012; Newsweek magazine this year wrote about "The Fall of France"; UK newspaper The Independent caustically wrote about burnout "in the land of the 35-hour week, generous holidays and long lunches", while Andy Street, chief executive officer of British retailer John Lewis, in October said that France was "finished", calling it "sclerotic, hopeless and downbeat".
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